SUPREME COURT LIMITS BIDEN’S POWER TO CUT EMISSIONS
THE US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) HAS LOST SOME OF ITS POWER TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
THE LANDMARK RULING BY THE US SUPREME COURT REPRESENTS A MAJOR SETBACK TO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN’S CLIMATE PLANS.
HE CALLED IT A “DEVASTATING DECISION” BUT SAID IT WOULD NOT UNDERMINE HIS EFFORT TO TACKLE THE CLIMATE CRISIS.
THE CASE AGAINST THE EPA WAS BROUGHT BY WEST VIRGINIA ON BEHALF OF 18 OTHER MOSTLY REPUBLICAN-LED STATES AND SOME OF THE NATION’S LARGEST COAL COMPANIES.
ATIKU BATTLES TO AVERT PDP’S COLLAPSE, WIKE’S LOYALISTS THREATEN DEFECTION
THE RIVERS STATE GOVERNOR NYESOM WIKE LOYALISTS IN THE PEOPLE’S DEMOCRACTIC PARTY ARE THREATENING TO LEAVE THE PARTY IF THEIR PRINCIPAL DEFECTS WORSENING THE CRISIS ROCKING THE PARTY AHEAD OF THE 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS.
POLITICAL LEADERS LOYAL TO WIKE, WARNED THE PDP OF THEIR READINESS TO MOBILISE OTHER SUPPORTERS OF THE GOVERNOR TO DUMP THE NATION’S MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY.
BUT, PDP’S STANDARD-BEARER, ATIKU ABUBAKAR, ALLAYED FEARS OVER THE CRISIS IN THE PARTY, SAYING HE WOULD ENSURE RECONCILIATION.
ATIKU SAID THIS BARELY 24 HOURS AFTER BENUE STATE GOVERNOR SAMUEL ORTOM ACCUSED HIM OF FAILING TO HONOUR THE DEMOCRATIC CHOICE IN THE SELECTION OF HIS RUNNING MATE.
UK DEPORTS 30 NIGERIANS, SEEKS NEW AGREEMENT WITH FG
THE UNITED KINGDOM HAS SAID IT IS INITIATING A NEW AGREEMENT ON MIGRATION COLLABORATION FOLLOWING THE DEPORTATION OF ABOUT 30 NIGERIANS AND EIGHT GHANAIANS WHO LANDED AT THE MURTALA MUHAMMED INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, IN LAGOS.
THE UK GOVERNMENT IS REQUESTING FOR “MAJOR NEW AGREEMENT” WITH NIGERIA TO COLLABORATE ON MIGRATION ISSUES, FOLLOWING SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS WITH GHANA AND RWANDA, AS THE UK HOME OFFICE, RESPONSIBLE FOR MIGRATION ISSUES IN NIGERIA STATED THAT THE FLIGHT CARRIED ALSO EIGHT GHANAIANS.
THE FLIGHT THAT BROUGHT BACK THE DEPORTED NIGERIANS WAS OPERATED BY PORTUGUESE CHARTER CARRIER HI FLY, BUT IT WAS NOT CLEAR WHY THE NIGERIANS AND GHANAIANS IN THE FLIGHT WERE DEPORTED.
LAST MONDAY, THE UK GOVERNMENT HAD ALSO DEPORTED SOME NIGERIANS AND RECORDS HAD INDICATED THAT OVER 10,000 PEOPLE HAVE SO FAR BEEN DEPORTED FROM THE UK BETWEEN JANUARY 2019 AND MAY 2022.
MARKETERS DENY FG’S N74BN PAYMENT, WARN OF MASSIVE FUEL QUEUES
OIL MARKETERS HAVE WARNED NIGERIA COULD WITNESS “THE MOTHER OF ALL QUEUES” FROM NEXT WEEK IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FAILS TO PAY THE 12 MONTHS BRIDGING CLAIMS BEING OWED OPERATORS IN THE DOWNSTREAM OIL SECTOR.
DEALERS UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM MARKETERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA, WHICH CONTROLS ABOUT 70 PER CENT OF FILLING STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ALSO DENIED BEING PAID N74BN BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS BRIDGING CLAIMS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.
ON WEDNESDAY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH ITS NIGERIA MIDSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM PETROLEUM REGULATORY AUTHORITY SAID IT PAID N74BN AS BRIDGING CLAIMS TO OIL MARKETERS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN SEVEN MONTHS.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAID WHILE REACTING TO ALLEGATIONS MADE BY IPMAN, SULEJA BRANCH, THAT THE SCARCITY OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS IN NIGERIA WAS DUE TO THE NON-PAYMENT OF BRIDGING CLAIMS.
NLC PLANS ONE-DAY PROTEST OVER ASUU STRIKE, OTHERS
THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS HAS SAID IT WILL HOLD A ONE – DAY NATIONAL PROTEST TO FORCE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF UNIVERSITY-BASED UNIONS.
THE CONGRESS SAYS REPORTS FROM A MEETING OF ITS CENTRAL WORKING COMMITTEE SHOWED LACK OF PROGRESS IN THE NEGOTIATION WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF UNIVERSITIES, SENIOR STAFF ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES, NON-ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF UNIVERSITIES AND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGISTS.
THE PRESIDENT OF NLC, AYUBA WABBA SAID THIS IN ABUJA DURING THE OPENING OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CONGRESS WHERE HE DIRECTED ALL THE AFFILIATE UNIONS OF THE NLC TO ISSUE DIRECTIVES ON THE PLANNED ONE-DAY NATIONAL PROTEST FROM NEXT WEEK.
RUSSIA WITHDRAWS TROOPS FROM SNAKE ISLAND
RUSSIA SAYS ITS FORCES HAVE RELINQUISHED CONTROL OF SNAKE ISLAND IN THE NORTH-WESTERN BLACK SEA, WHICH HAS BEEN BATTLED OVER SINCE THE START OF THE WAR.
MOSCOW SAYS ITS WITHDRAWAL IS A “GOODWILL GESTURE” MEANT TO HELP FACILITATE GRAIN EXPORTS FROM UKRAINE
BUT UKRAINIAN FORCES, WHICH HAVE BEEN ATTACKING RUSSIAN POSITIONS WITH AIR STRIKES, CLAIM A MAJOR VICTORY
LEADERS OF NATO COUNTRIES ARE MEANWHILE MEETING FOR THE FINAL DAY OF THEIR MADRID SUMMIT, AFTER DECLARING RUSSIA A MAJOR THREAT
UKRAINE’S MILITARY HAS WELCOMED FRESH NATO PLEDGES BUT OFFICIALS SAY SHELLS ARE CONTINUING TO RAIN DOWN IN EASTERN UKRAINE
REGIONAL OFFICIALS SAY RUSSIA IS THROWING NEARLY EVERYTHING AT CAPTURING LYSYCHANSK, A KEY CITY, AFTER TAKING NEARBY SEVERODONETSK,
VLADIMIR PUTIN MEANWHILE ACCUSES NATO OF HAVING IMPERIAL AMBITIONS
A’IBOM ACCORD PARTY DENIES BEING SPONSORED BY GOVERNMENT
THE AKWA IBOM STATE CHAPTER OF ACCORD PARTY HAS IDENTIFIED ITSELF AS ALTERNATIVE PARTY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS OF THE STATE IF VOTED INTO POWER IN 2023.
THE STATE CHAIRMAN OF THE ACCORD PARTY, MARTINS ANSA, TOLD JOURNALISTS THIS IN UYO WHILE DENYING INSINUATIONS THAT THE PARTY IS BEING SPONSORED BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT DISMISSING AS FALSE AND MALICIOUS THE RUMOUR THAT ITS GOVERNORSHIP ASPIRANT, EMEM COFFIE, HOLDS A SUBSTITUTIVE CANDIDATE POSITION.
ANSA SAYS ACCORD PARTY IN AKWA IBOM STATE IS A PRODUCT OF SELF-SACRIFICE BY COMMITTED MEMBERS WHO HAVE SHOWN UNFLINCHING LOYALTY IN THEIR BELIEF TO PRODUCE THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF AKWA IBOM STATE IN 2023 SAYING ACCORD (PARTY) IN AKWA IBOM STATE HAS NEVER RECEIVED A DIME FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT NOR AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.
LAWMAKER KICKS AS WATER BILL RESURFACES AT HOUSE OF REPS
THE CONTROVERSIAL NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES BILL, 2020, HAS RE-EMERGED ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMIDST SUSPICIONS FROM MEMBERS.
A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE FROM BENUE STATE, MARK GBILLAH, WHO RAISED THE ALARM WHEN THE BILL WAS TO BE TAKEN FOR THE FIRST READING SAYS HE IS AWARE THE MATTER LISTED FOR FIRST READING, THE NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES BILL, GENERATED A LOT OF CONTROVERSY WITHIN THE HOUSE AND EVEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WONDERS WHY THE ISSUE IS BEING RE-PRESENTED ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE AS SOME OF THE HOUSE MEMBERS ARE NOT COMFORTABLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL IN THE FIRST INSTANCE.”
UPON THE OBJECTION TO THE BILL BROUGHT BY GBILLAH THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER, FEMI GBAJABIAMILA SAID HE ASKED THE CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON WATER RESOURCES GAVE AN THE ISSUES OF CONTROVERSY THAT WERE RAISED INITIALLY HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY ALL THE GOVERNORS SAYING IT IS A NEW BILL, THAT ALL THE GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERATION – BOTH SOUTH AND NORTH – PARTICIPATED AS THE LEGISLATION WOULD CAPTURE ALL THE INTERESTS OF THE STATES.
IT WILL BE RECALLED PRESIDENT, MUHAMMADU BUHARI HAD IN 2017 PRESENTED THE CONTROVERSIAL BILL TO BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WHICH SEEKS TO TRANSFER THE CONTROL OF WATER RESOURCES FROM THE STATES TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AFTER N2.5M FINE, COURT THREATENS EVANS WITH MORE PENALTIES
JUSTICE KAYODE OGUNJOBI OF AN IGBOSERE HIGH COURT SITTING AT THE TAFAWA BALEWA SQUARE (TBS) HAS THREATENED TO IMPOSE FURTHER COSTS ON CONVICTED KIDNAP KINGPIN, CHUKWUDUMEME ONWUAMADIKE, A.K.A. EVANS, FOR DELAYING A £223,000 POUNDS SUIT.
ONE OF EVANS’ KIDNAP VICTIMS, DONATUS DURU, FILED THE SUIT IN 2018 DEMANDING A RETURN OF THE £223,000 POUNDS HE PAID TO EVANS AS RANSOM TO FREE HIMSELF FROM THE KINGPIN’S CUSTODY.
DURU IS ALSO DEMANDING THE SUM OF N50MILLION AS DAMAGES AT 20 PER CENT INTEREST.
JUSTICE OGUNJOBI, BEFORE WHOM THE MATTER IS, HAS ALREADY IMPOSED COSTS OF N2.5MILLION ON EVANS.
AT RESUMPTION OF PROCEEDINGS ON WEDNESDAY, THE JUSTICE OGUNJOBI THREATENED TO IMPOSE ANOTHER COST ON THE CONVICT FOR HIS DELAY TACTICS OVER HIS CHOICE OF LAWYER AND CRITCISED EVANS’ CONDUCT WHICH HE SAYS IS HURTING EVERYBODY” AND COSTING THE LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT MONEY”.
WHEN THE CASE WAS CALLED, A LAWYER, MAXWELL CHUKWUEMEKA, ANNOUNCED HE WAS SEEKING TO REPRESENT THE DEFENDANT (EVANS) IN THE CASE.
EVANS HAD ON MARCH THE 3RD, 2022, APPLIED TO THE COURT TO BE ALLOWED TO DEFEND HIMSELF.
BUT CHUKWUEMEKA TOLD THE COURT HE HAD FILED TWO APPLICATIONS – A MOTION FOR CHANGE OF COUNSEL AND A MOTION FOR AMENDMENT OF THE DEFENDANT’S STATEMENT OF DEFENCE.
DURU’S COUNSEL, D. O. OBIORA, SAID THE DEFENDANT HAD BEEN CHANGING COUNSEL BUT DID NOT OPPOSE THE APPLICATIONS SAYING THE COURT DELIVERED A RULING ON MAY THE 23RD, GRANTING LEAVE FOR THE DEFENDANT TO FILE ITS STATEMENT OF DEFENCE AND WONDERED HOW EVANS WAS SEEKING LEAVE TO AMEND A DEFENCE HE HAD YET TO FILE.
JUSTICE OGUNJOBI WHO GRANTED BOTH APPLICATIONS SAYS THE MATTER HAS SUFFERED SEVERAL ADJOURNMENTS.
THE JUSTICE HAS THEREFORE ADJOURNED THE CASE TILL JULY 13 FOR THE DEFENCE TO OPEN ITS CASE.
FED GOVT HIRES LAWYERS FOR EKWEREMADU’S DEFENCE
AS THE ALLEGED CASE OF ORGAN HARVESTING INVOLVING THE IMMEDIATE PAST DEPUTY SENATE PRESIDENT IKE EKWEREMADU AND HIS WIFE BEATRICE IS PENDING IN A UK COURT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THROUGH THE NIGERIAN HIGH COMMISSION TO THE UNITED KINGDOM (UK), HAS HIRED LAWYERS TO DEFEND HIM AND HIS WIFE.
SENATE PRESIDENT AHMAD LAWAN WHO ANNOUNCED THIS AFTER A CLOSED-DOOR SESSION OF THE UPPER CHAMBER IN ABUJA SAYS THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, CHAIRED BY ADAMU BULKACHUWA WILL VISIT EKWEREMADU AND HIS WIFE IN LONDON THIS FRIDAY.
LAWAN SAYS THE LAWMAKERS WERE BRIEFED ABOUT EKWEREMADU’S TRAVAIL AND AFTER APPRAISING THE ROLE THE NIGERIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO THE UK, AMBASSADOR SARAFADEEN ISHOLA HAS BEEN PLAYING SAW THE HIGH COMMISSIONER HAS BEEN ENSURING EKWEREMADU GETS ALL NECESSARY ASSISTANCE.
IT WILL BE RECALED THE FORMER SENATE DEPUTY PRESIDENT AND HIS WIFE WERE ARRESTED IN THE UK LAST WEEK AND ARRAIGNED AT UXBRIDGE MAGISTRATES’ COURT IN LONDON OVER ALLEGATIONS OF ORGAN HARVESTING AND WERE REMANDED IN CUSTODY TILL JULY 7, WHICH IS THE NEXT ADJOURNMENT DATE.